Mechanical ash tray



Aug. 26, 1947. J, w, L om- E 2,426,511

MEGHANI CAL ASH TRAY Filed Dec; 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIVVf/VTOR Aug. 26, 1947. J. w. LA POINTE 2,426,51 i I I MECHANICAL ASH TRAY w 7 Filed Dec. 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Shefl 2 error/v67.

Patented Aug. 26, 1947 UNITED STATES FATE (9) F FlC E MECHANICAL ASH TRAY Joseph Wilfridv La Pointe,.Astria, N; Y.- Application December 19, 1945,-Serial No..63 5:,9 i2

7 Claims.

This invention relates tonew and useful improvements in a mechanical ashtray;

More particularly the invention. proposes amechanical. ash tray which is particularly intended to be usedin smoker cars of railroad trains, in busy clubs and restaurants, and other places where many people usually smoke. Inplaces of this type it is not uncommon. to see ash trays filled and overflowing on to the floor and the furniture in the vicinity.

The new mechanical ash tray, in accordance with this invention, is characterized bythe. fact that it will empty itself. It is proposed that the new ash tray have one or more cylinders into which ashes and cigarette and cigar butts may be deposited. It is proposed toconstruct these cylinders with removable bottoms. It is an object of this invention to construct said receptacles of hollow cylinders open at. their top and bottomends, and a wing-shaped blade closing the bottom ends of said hollow cylinders. It is proposed that said wing-shaped blade be movably mounted beneath the open bottom. ends of said hollow cylinders so that in certain positions the blade closes the bottoms of the cylinders and inother positions it is free of the cylinders. A large main collection receptacle is provided beneath said cylinders tocatch and hold the ashes, and cigar and cigarette butts-whichfall through said open bottom cylinders. It is contemplated to associate-the wing shaped blade with. means by which it is periodically moved through. positions opening the bottoms of the cylinders for emptying and cleaning purposes andthen to positions closing the bottoms of said cylinders.

More specifically it is proposed that the wing shaped blade be rotatively mounted. The drive means which is associated with the wing blade includes an intermittent drive capable of periodically causing; the wing. shaped blade to. turn around 180 During thismotion the bottoms of: the cyl inders will be closed and opened.

Another object of th'isinvention is to associate a friction clutchwith the drive of the wing; shaped blade sothat if a foreignparticlebecomes jammed in between the side wall of a cylinder and the wing shaped blade, nodamage willbedone. The blade will merely stop rotating. When the foreign particle is removed the blade will automatically assume its correct position in respect to theintermittent drive, which maintains the blade in. sta--- tionary positions closing-v the bottoms of. the cylinders, until the drive rotates the blade periodical-- ly-through angular distances-ofl8-0 during which time the bottoms of the cylinderswill-be open;

Another object of this invention istoassociate. a wiper with the wing, shaped bladezto act to wipe off: the. bladeas itv rotates. This prevents. accurmulation. of ashes and dirt. onthe blade whichin time would jam the blade against the side' of a rec a le.

'I he invention also-proposes to associate. a framework for supporting; advertising signs with the drive of: the wing; shaped blade so' that'the advertising signs will becorrespondingly moved. This is. quite an attractive arrangement. It. is; also-contemplatedtoprovide suitable illumination for theadvertising signs. Forv increased advertising; space cellulose acetate-film in roll. form can be used 'inthis: space, using. the same driving mechanism.

Stilliurther the invention; proposes the construction of a. mechanical ash tray. embodying thevar-ious features pointed out. ab ove which may be manufactured and so'ld' ata reasonable cost.

For further comprehension. of, the invention, and of the objects and advantages-thereof, reference will be had to=the following description and accompanying drawings, and. to the appended claims in which the various novel ieaturesof the invention-are moreparticularly set. forth.

In thgaccompanying drawings forming a material' part of this-disclosure:

Fig. lisa fragmentary plan view of a mechanical ash tray constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2" is a; fragmentary vertical sectional view takenon the'line'2 2 of Fig. 1..

Fig; B-is afragmentary enlarged: vertical sec tional view taken-on the line*3T-3 of Fig. 1'.

Fig. 4. is afragmentary bottom view lookingin the direct-ionof: the. line-4.-'-4 of Fig; 3.

The mechanical ash tray, in accordance with this. invention-,;inc1udes a casing. I 11' which is supported upon abase- H. Preferably the' casing H]: is constmcted'v of. sheet metal* It is provided. with afla-t top wall L-Zwhic'h. is sunk a shortdistance below the-tope'dge. 13 of the casing. The'top wall 12 isformedrwith onerorimore openings M'beneath each ofwhich a hollow cylinder I5 with-.opentop and bottom ends is mounted. Thesecylinders i5 are-attached to the bottom. facev ofthe top wall I2. -A. wingshapediblade 1.6: is'movablymountedbeneath the cylinders I S-andinaaxcertain position closes the bottom of the: cylinders and in. another position it. willbe free'from said cylinders. In Figs 1 and. 2-,- the blade I16; is shown. between .the cylinders -15: so that-they are. free- When the blade l.- 6.turns around 90 from-'thepositionit' is.

illustratediin in Fig; 1 itv will beir'r a: position in which it closes the'bottomsof the. cylinders [5. The dot and dash lines IS in Fig. 2 schematically indicatesthe latter position of. the blade I'll.

When said blade l6 closes. the bottom ends of said fiofinderst I5; This large main receptacle It may tively mounted. More specifically, it is mounted upon the top end of a vertical shaft 2|. This shaft 2| is rotatively mounted on a housing 22 which in turn is supported on and by the guide funnel l9.

The wing shaped blade I8 is associated with means'for periodically moving it from and to positions beneath the open bottom cylinders Hi. This means is in the nature of a drive for the shaft 2|. This drive includes a friction disc 23 fixedly mounted on said shaft 2| and cooperative with the side face of a gear 24 which is turnably mounted on said shaft 2|. Resilient means, namely spring 28, urges the gear 24 against the friction disc 23. The disc 23 is provided with a friction gasket 25 against which the gear 24 engages. The spring 26 is mounted coaxially about the shaft 2|, and acts against a collar 21 fixedly mounted on said shaft 2|. The gear 24 is periodically driven by a drive transmission which includes an intermittent drive. This transmission is operated by a small electric motor 28 which is mounted within the housing 22.

The shaft 29 of the motor 28 extends through a bushing 38 which is mounted through the bottom wall of the housing 22. A nut 3| holds the bushing 38 in position. An intermittent drive pinion 32 is mounted upon the bottom of the shaft 29 and is cooperative with a four position intermittent drive wheel 33. This wheel 33 is rotative on the shaft 2|. It is supported by a collar 34 which is fixedly mounted on the shaft 2| beneath the wheel 33. A gear 35 is fixedly mounted upon the top face of the four position intermittent drive wheel 33. The gear 35 meshes with a, gear 36 which is fixedly mounted on a counter shaft 31 rotatively mounted on and through the housing 22. The top and bottom walls of the housing 22 are provided with bushings 38 through which the shaft 31 passes. These bushings 38 are held in position with nuts 39. A collar 40 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 31 and rests against the top face of one of the bushings 38. A large gear 4| is mounted upon the shaft 31 and meshes with the gear 24. The ratio of these gears are 2: 1. A wiper 44 is fixedly mounted upon the bottom face of the wall l2. This wiper 44 has a rubber member 45 which extends across the top face of the wing shaped blade l6 when the blade is in the position shown in Fig. 1. The wiper 44' is located immediately adjacent the cylinders l and is for the purpose of wiping the top face of the blade |6 each time that the blade makes one revolution. The material wiped off of the blade I6 will fall down into the guide funnel l9 and then into the collection receptacle [8.

A sleeve 41 is rotatively mounted upon the which is attached to the sleeve 41, a, spoke or spider portion 5| which extends radially of the hub 58 and which connects with a sign holder 52 for supporting advertising and other signs. This sign holder 52 extends around within the casing Hi. The. casing I0 is formed with one or more window openings 53 from which the sign holder 52 is viewable. An auxiliary advertising sign band 54 is mounted upon the sign holder 52. The casing 0 has additional windows 55 through which the auxiliary sign band 54 is viewable.

The hub 58 rests upon a washer 51 which in turn rests upon thetop face of a bushing 58 which is mounted through the top wall of the housing 22. A nut 59 holds the bushing 58 in position. The shaft 2| passes through another bushing 58 which is mounted through the bottom wall of the housing 22. This latter bushing 58 is held in position by a nut 59. A collar 60 is mounted upon the shaft 2| and rests against the top face of one of the bushings 58. A gear 62 is mounted upon the sleeve 41 and meshes with a gear 63 mounted upon the counter shaft 31. Electric lamps 65 are mounted within the casing l8 and serve to illuminate signs mounted upon the sign holders 52 and 54.

The operation of the mechanical ash tray may be understood from the following:

The wing shaped blade I6 is normally in a position to extend across and close the open bottoms of the cylinders it when the intermittent drive four position wheel 33 is in a stationary position. Rotations from the motor 28 drives the intermittent drive pinion 32, and for each revolution it makes, it will turn the four position wheel 33 to a new position. The four position intermittent drive wheel 33 turns 98 each time. This motion is transmitted by the gears 35 and 36 to the counter shaft 31. A turn of the counter shaft 31 indirectly turns the shaft 2| through the gears 4| and 24. This causes the wing shaped blade It to turn around 180. During this motion the open bottom ends of the cylinders I5 will be free, and ashes and cigarette and cigar butts will fall through thefunnel I9 and'then into the main collection receptacle I8. Because the top wall I2 is at a lower elevation than the top l3 of thecasin [8, the top portion of the casing is in the nature of a receiving cup for holding ashes, cigarette and cigar butts which are deposited in it. The ash tray can never assume an overflowing condition because periodically the cylinders IE will automatically be emptied. The wiper 44 keeps the top of the blade |6 clean. 7

Rotations from theshaft 31 will also be indirectly transmitted to the sleeve 41 by the ears 62 and 63. Since the framework 49 is mounted on the sleeve 41 it will rotate correspondingly. This causes the advertising or other signs on the framework to be periodically moved and displayed through the window openings 53 and 55 of the casing Ill.

While I haveillu'strate d and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved toall changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention,.what I claim as new and desire to secure byUnited States Letters Patent is:

1. A mechanical ash tray, comprising a casing, a hollow cylinder with open top and bottom ends mounted on and accessible through an opening in the top of said casing, a wing shaped blade movably mounted beneath said cylinder and in certain positions closing the bottom of said cylinder and in other positions being free of said cylinder, a main collection receptacle beneath said cylinder, a stationary housing mounted beneath said Wing-shaped blade and not restricting passages of ashes, cigar or cigarette stubs and the like from said cylinders to said main collection receptacle, and motor driven means mounted in said housing and connected with said blade for periodically moving said blade alternately to said positions, including an intermittent drive.

2. A mechanical ash tray, comprising a casing, a hollow cylinder with open top and bottom ends mounted on and accesible through an opening in the top of said casing, a wing shaped blade movably mounted beneath said cylinder and in certain positions closing the bottom of said cylinder and in other positions being free of said cylinder, a main collection receptacle beneath said cylinder, a stationary housing mounted beneath said wing-shaped blade and not restricting passages of ashes, cigar or cigarette stubs and the like from said cylinders to said main collection receptacle, and motor driven means mounted in said housing and connected with said blade for periodically moving said blade alternately to said positions, including an intermittent drive, and a friction clutch located between said intermittent drive and the wing shaped blade.

3. A mechanical ash tray, comprising a casing, a plurality of hollow cylinders with open top and bottom ends mounted on and accessible through openings in the top of said casing, a wing shaped blade movably mounted beneath said cylinders and in certain positions closing the bottoms of said cylinders, a main collection receptacle beneath said cylinders, a stationary housing mountted beneath said wing-shaped blade and not restricting passage of ashes, cigar or cigarette stubs and the like from said cylinders to said main collection receptacle, and motor driven means mounted in said housing and connected with said blade for periodically moving said blade alternately to said positions.

4. A mechanical ash tray, comprising a casing, a plurality of hollow cylinders with open top and bottom ends mounted on and accessible through openings in the top of said casing, a wing shaped blade movably mounted beneath said cylinders and in certain positions closing the bottoms of said cylinders, a main collection receptacle beneath said cylinders, a stationary housing mounted beneath said wing-shaped blade and not restricting passage of ashes, cigar and cigarette stubs and the like from said cylinders to said main collection receptacle, and motor driven means mounted in said housing and connected with said blade for periodically moving said blade alternately to said positions, including an intermittent drive and a friction clutch located between said intermittent drive and said Wing shaped blade.

5. A mechanical ash tray, comprising a casing, a plurality of hollow cylinders with open top and bottom ends mounted on and accessible through openings in the top of said casing, a wing shaped blade movably mounted beneath said cylinders and in certain positions closing the hottoms of said cylinders and in other positions being free of said cylinders, a main collection receptacle beneath said cylinders, and a guide funnel for guiding ashes, cigarette and cigar butts from said cylinders to said main collection receptacle, a stationary housing mounted beneath said wing-shaped blade and not restricting passage of ashes, cigar and cigarette stubs and the like from said cylinders to said main collection receptacle, and motor driven means mounted in said housing and connected with said blade for periodically moving said blade alternately to said positions.

6. A mechanical ash tray, comprising a casing, a plurality of open bottom cylinders mounted on and accessible through openings in the top of said casing, a wing shaped blade movably mounted beneath said cylinders and in certain positions closing the bottoms of said cylinders, and in other positions being free of said cylinders, a main collection receptacle beneath said cylinders, a stationary housing mounted beneath said wing-shaped blade and not restricting passage of ashes, cigar or cigarette stubs and the like from said cylinders to said main collection receptacle, and motor driven means mounted in said housing and connected with said blade for periodically moving said blade alternately to said positions, comprising, a main shaft rotatively mounted in said housing and connected with said blade, a friction disc mounted on said shaft, a gear turnably on said shaft, resilient means urging said gear against said friction disc, and a motor driven transmission including an intermittent drive for periodically turning said gear.

'7. A mechanical ash tray, comprising a casing, a plurality of open bottom cylinders mounted on and accessible through openings in the top of said casing, a wing shaped blade movably mounted beneath said cylinders and in certain positions closing the bottoms of said cylinders, and in other positions being free of said cylinders, a main collection receptacle beneath said cylinders, a stationary housing mounted beneath said wingshaped blade and not restricting passage of ashes, cigar or cigarette stubs and the like from said cylinders to said main collection receptacle, and motor driven means mounted in said housing and connected with said blade for periodically moving said blade alternately to said positions, comprising, a main shaft rotatively mounted in said housing and connected with said blade, a friction disc-mounted on said shaft, a gear turnably on said shaft, resilient means urging said gear against said friction disc, and a motor driven transmission including an intermittent drive for periodically turning said gear, said main shaft being provided with a collar, and said resilient means comprising a spring coaxially about said main shaft and acting between said collar and gear.

JOSEPH WILFRID LA POINTE.

REFERENCES CITED Name Date Reichart June 24, 1930 Number 

